Making It Work: Home Studio Portraits Without the Studio

Most of my work involves schlepping around—meeting people in their homes, workplaces, or wherever suits them. That’s fine by me. But occasionally, the most convenient place ends up being my own home.

When the Living Room Becomes a Studio

While not exactly purpose-built, my living room does the job. The walls are a pale, neutral colour, and I can get just enough distance for shooting portraits wide open. That way, the texture on the walls blurs nicely into the background, pretending to be a pro studio setup.

Two portraits here were made under such conditions. The first is of my friend Jane. I had just returned from New York with a shiny new light modifier and needed to test it. Naturally, I rang Jane—she’s always up for helping out—and we spent an hour experimenting.

From Casual to Commissioned

The second portrait is of Marc. This was a commissioned job: CV photos and general online presence material. I used the same light panel from the Jane shoot, but this time, I covered it with a bright silver reflector. I moved it in and out of the frame to control the fill on the right side of his face. The lighting was pretty straightforward, but I did play with the background across different shots: pure white, soft gradients, and, in the version here, no direct background light at all.

Why Less Sometimes Works Best

In the end, I prefer this version—the neutral warm grey background with soft fall-off. It gives the portrait a clean, classic look, but not too clinical. Marc isn’t smiling either, which I think helps push it slightly away from the typical corporate headshot and closer to something a little more thoughtful, maybe even creative.

So while I won’t be opening a home studio any time soon, it’s good to know that—with a few tweaks—my apartment can do the trick.